The Italian Cultural Institute in Pretoria, in collaboration with International Jazzday, is hosting a Giovanni Guidi Jazz Trio in Namibia today at the National Theatre of Namibia.
The concert will be opened by national vocal artist Erna Chimu and her band for a night of magical rhythms.
Namibian jazz singer and songwriter Chimu rose to fame when she won several musical awards in 2014, including best instrumental jazz, best traditional song, and female artist of the year at the Namibia Annual Music Awards.
Chimu told VIBEZ that she is thrilled as she was chosen for this specific show.She cannot wait to share her music, while at the same time learning from the best.
“I will be performing as an acoustic piece. It’s unplugged and more intimate. I have a 30minutes time slot. I have some projects in the pipeline, but it’s too soon to release that information,” she said.
She added that she is grateful for the Namibian people for the support and all the parastatals, stakeholders that are getting involved to revive live music because this scene has been struggling, especially the Jazz audiences, as we all know jazz must be performed with a band and catering for a band is usually costly.
Brenda Sisane the spokesperson of Giovanni Guidi, explained that, Giovanni Guidi is an Italian jazz pianist well-known on the European scene as a band leader and a frequent sideman for trumpeter Enrico Rava. His touch is said to be subtle but technically deft both in his performances as a soloist and an accompanist. After his debut album as a leader at the early age of 21, Guidi has always demonstrated resourcefulness and adaptability. “In 2013, he signed with the famous ECM record label e short after he began his collaboration with American bassist Joe Rehmer and Italian drummer Enrico Morello,” Sisane said.
She added that, this is now a well-established trio renowned for its unique sound and style, combining elements of jazz, classical music and improvisation. They have released several albums and collaborations, and performed at various venues and festivals worldwide, receiving critical acclaim for their live performances.